Electric clock.



No. 731,280. PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.

J. A. GARR-UTHERS ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.10| 1902.

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APPLIOATION FILED 0M. 10, 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC CLO-CK.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,280, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed October 10, 1902. Serial No. 126,660. (No model.)

' To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER CARRUTHERS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at High street, St. James, in the State of Victoria, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically Actuated and Controlled Clocks, of which the following; is a specification.

My invention provides a clock the mechanism of which is operated electrically, the usual in ainspring being dispensed with. My invention thus obviates the necessity of winding the clock, and which will go for an indefinite period. A single cell, such as a Leclanoh cell, will provide sufficient source of energy to operate the clock.

In order that the invention may be clear, I will describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows front elevation of a clock designed according to the invention, a part being in section. Fig. 2 shows transverse section of same; and Figs. '3 to 6 details of parts, Figs. 4 and 5 being drawn to an enlarged scale.

(t represents the clock-casing; Z), the dial. Vithin the casing is hung in the ordinary manner pendulum c. This pendulum carries cylinder orweight (Z, that is adjusted by milled screw (1, and the pendulum terminates with a soft armature e. The armature of the pendulum is arranged to swing within the field of an electro magnet or magnets f, that have soft cores f to be energized and deenergized on the make and break of the electrical circuit, as hereinafter described.

From the casing a two brackets or arms h h project, and these carry at their ends, which are split, spring-plates 7L2 7L both of which are provided with platinum contact-points at if. The spring-plates 7L2 7L3 are adjustable into their correct position in the slots of the brackets and are held by the thumb-screws h. The pendulum c carries sliding frame j, with screw-nutj for adjusting its level, and at end of said frame is an open boxj in which is hinged a plate j, the object of the construction being to cause the said plate j to impinge upon and depress the spring if to form contact with the spring 72. at the required times and to allow it on the return motion to ride over without exerting a pressure upon the spring-plate 7;. The spring 72,3 has wire g,leading to electrical cell or battery, and the spring 7L2 has wire g, led to terminal 7". This wire is in circuit with the electromagnetwires 9 the latter being in circuit, at terminal 7' with wire 9 leading to battery.

Within the casing are set frame-plates 7a. A plate 75 has at its top a block 3, that has an opening 3 through it and through which is passed and within which is pivoted rod I, having forked end Z, connected to rod Zby springplate Z The fork l embraces pendulum c, and. by which the pendulum motion is communicated to the dial mechanism of the clock. The oscillating travel of the rod Z is limited by the hole .9, and said rod is made somewhat flexible to prevent sudden shocks in its action. A bar m has bearings in the frames 70, and its end is bifurcated and secured to the rod Z- and is free in its bearings, so that the bar is caused to partially rotate with the oscillating motion of the rod Z. The said bar m carries the escapement, which is of peculiar design and consists of plate or lever n, Fig. 5, set on the bar m and to which is pivoted at top a long pawl n and at bottom a short pawl of. The said pawls engage with the teeth of escapement-wheel p, Fig. 5, set upon spindle 19. From the spindle 19" motion is communicated by pinion q or otherwise to gearing to operate the spindles t t to actuate the hands of the clock, and the arrangement of which will be obvious to clockmakers and is omitted from the drawings.

As an alternative to the spring-plate 7L3 I may employ a lever its, that is pivoted to bracket h and carries weight 71 a stop h being formed on the bracket to limit fall of weighted end of lever. This lever, as also the spring h", may

carry a roller h to receive the impact of the hinged plate 3' The operation is as follows: Assume the pendulum to be in the position shown in Fig; 1 and moving'in the direction of arrow. At this moment the hinged platej will bear upon the spring-plate h being stopped against the box j causing it to form contact with the spring-plate 7L2, so completing the electrical circuit and energizing the electromagnet that it will exert an attractive force 011 the armature e; but before the pendulum will have moved to a position directly over the electromagnet the contact will be broken at It by 20 1), at the same time moving it around.

the platej passing beyond the spring-plate h, and the energy given to the pendulum will carry it to its extreme position, traveling in the direction of the arrow, and the momentum thus given to it will carry it back in the opposite direction to its extreme position. The hinge plate during this backward travel being free of the box will pass idly over the plate ha, and the pendulum will on its return to the position (approximately) shown 011 Fig. 1 again be exerted forward, as before.

The escapement mechanism is designed to control the dial mechanism at all times under Varying electrical power. The action of the pendulum will oscillate the rod Z to partially rotate the bar m and operate the plate or lever n of the escapeinent in such a manner as to lift the pawls n n alternately out of e11- gagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel The block 3, in which the rod l works, acts as a limitation-stop for Z, and thus operates on the bar m to restrict the pawl movements to one tooth progression only at a swing. The employment of roller h will minimize friction in the pendulum action, and it will also enable a shorter contact to be made,and so economize electrical action in the battery.

It will be seen that the electromagnets will be energized once only on the full stroke of the pendulum, so that the cell or battery will only be drawn upon at such times as the contact is made and will thus last a Very considerable time before being exhausted.

I have described the invention as being controlled by a single electrical cell, but it will be understood that the power might be obtained from any other suitable electrical source. The

cell or battery, which may be either of the wet or dry system when employed, may be placed in any convenient position, such as in a box at top of or beneath the clock-casing, the battery-wires g being led away to such battery in the most convenient manner.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- In electrically actuated and controlled clocks in combination a pendulum, an armature at its base, an electromagnet beneath the armature a bracket 7L carrying spring-plate 7L, bracket 7t carrying spring-plate 7L2, a hingeplate j adjustably supported from the pendulum so as to bear on the plate its at intervals, a rod Z oscillated by the pendulum, a bar an attached to rod Z and carrying escapement n, n n and a ratchet-wheel engaging with the escapement and set on a spindle from which the dial mechanism of the clock is actuated substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER CA liRU'lllEllS.

WVit-nesses:

A. O. SACHSE, A. IIARKER. 

